Buffalo Bills Draft Profiles: Five First-Round Quarterback Candidates
Sky is the Limit: Josh Allen
Darnold and Rosen. Those are the two names most people discuss when debating top quarterbacks in the draft class. Allen has entered the conversation due to his prototypical size and intangibles needed to be an NFL quarterback. Standing a sturdy six-foot-five, 240-pounds, Allen is built like an NFL star.
Allen’s statistics have not been as eye-popping as one would want out of a top grade quarterback. But with Allen more than anyone else in this draft you have to trust the tape, not the stats.
Instead of going to a big school, Allen went to Wyoming. It’s not the best college program but they do run a pro-style offense. This means he will be more familiar with some of the offenses he would be expected to run in the NFL. And most of all, though it sounds silly, Allen has experience taking snaps from under center. A lost art that the NCAA has kicked to the curb.
Allen had a 56.3 completion percentage and threw for just 1,812 yards with 16 touchdowns and just six picks in 10 games this season. At first glance, these stats don’t look like a top quarterback. But as NFL analyst Todd McShay discussed on ESPN, the tape explains these stats better than the naked eye. He mentions that receivers weren’t separating and they dropped many passes over the course of the season. He projected that with a better receiving core his completions would go up over 60 percent.
After looking at a tape study of Allen it is conceivable he could be a top pick.
Allen’s aforementioned intangibles are legit. The 21-year-old quarterback has a strong arm and pinpoint accuracy, despite his low completion percentage. The only issue with Allen is his inconsistencies.
In week two of the college season, Allen threw for 328 yards and 2 scores. He followed that game up with a stinker against Oregon. The team lost 49-13 and Allen tossed for a season-low 92 yards and a sub-500 completion percentage.
Allen missed the final two games with an injury and returned to Wyoming to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He led Wyoming to a 37-14 victory over Central Michigan where he went 11-19 for 154 yards and three scores.
After celebrating the bowl win Allen declared for the draft on national television.
The young quarterback has pro size and is a tremendous talent. With premier NFL talent around him perhaps he could flourish as a franchise quarterback. Should he fall out of the top-five picks the Bills should consider a move for Allen.